Fun Mountain Viscacha Facts For Kids
Gallery
Mountain viscachas are a kind of rodent native to South America. Their native range includes the Andes Mountains in Peru, central Chile, and Ecuador.
They are most commonly seen in rocky habitats. The mountain viscacha consists of four species, namely, the northern viscacha, southern viscacha, Wolffsohn’s viscacha, and Ecuadorean mountain viscacha. While not a lot of information exists about Wolffsohn's viscacha, the Ecuadorean mountain viscacha has been quite recently discovered and needs further research.
These animals can readily be recognized due to their dense fur and long ears. The distinguishable long ears make them look like a rabbit. Mountain viscachas have adapted to living at great heights.
For instance, northern viscachas (Lagidium peruanam) can be found at heights of up to 16,404 ft (5,000 m) in the Andes mountains. They have padded feet which provide protection against the rough terrain of their habitat.
These animals give birth to only one offspring after a gestation period of about four months or more. Mountain viscachas are diurnal in nature. Some of their populations, like the southern viscacha (Lagidium viscacia), face threats from hunting.
To learn more about this animal, keep reading! You can also check out Alpine marmot and gopher.
Mountain Viscacha Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a mountain viscacha?
The mountain viscacha is a type of rodent, native to South America. They are closely related to chinchillas, belonging to the same family.
What class of animal does a mountain viscacha belong to?
Mountain viscachas belong to the class Mammalia. There are four species of mountain viscachas and they all belong to the Chinchillidae family.
How many mountain viscachas are there in the world?
Though the exact population of mountain viscachas is not known, some of their population trends have been recorded. The southern viscacha (Lagidium viscacia) has a stable trend in population and is fairly common. In the case of the Ecuadorean mountain viscachas, the population is understudied but there appears to be fewer numbers of this species.
Where does a mountain viscacha live?
Viscachas are animals that are native and endemic to South America. The four species of mountain viscachas have a slightly different geographical range which might overlap. The northern viscacha is found in the Andes mountains in Peru.
Southern viscachas are more commonly found in the southern parts of Peru, western and central parts of Bolivia, northern and central parts of Chile, and western Argentina. Ecuadorean mountain viscachas have a really limited range and only occur in Ecuador. The range of Wolffsohn’s viscacha comprises certain regions of Argentina and Chile.
What is a mountain viscacha's habitat?
The habitat of mountain viscachas consists of slopes, rocky cliffs, and outcrops. The northern viscacha lives at elevations between 9,842.5-16,404 ft (3,000-5,000 m) in the Andes mountains. This region falls between the timber and snow lines.
They tend to favor habitats with succulent vegetation in this area. The range of southern mountain viscachas can extend above 15,748 ft (4,800 m), with ample rocky areas and sparse vegetation. All the different species reside in burrows or crevices.
Who do mountain viscachas live with?
Mountain viscachas are highly social and live in large colonies. Northern viscachas can be found living in large colonies with up to 80 members. Each colony has small family groups that consist of two to five viscachas.
How long does a mountain viscacha live?
In captivity, northern and southern viscachas can live up to 19 years. It can be assumed that the other two species also have similar longevity.
How do they reproduce?
The reproductive pattern in northern and southern viscachas has been well documented. The mating season lasts from October to December.
Successful mating is followed by a gestation period lasting for 140 days in the northern species, and 120-140 days in the southern species. The end of gestation is marked by the birth of one young pup. It is believed that the other two species of mountain viscachas also follow a similar reproductive system.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of the southern viscacha (Lagidium viscacia) has been marked as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN. The status of the Wolffsohn’s viscacha (Lagidium wolffsohni) and the Ecuadorean mountain viscacha (Lagidium ahuacaense) is marked as Data Deficient, whereas the northern viscacha (Lagidium peruanam) is Not Evaluated yet.
Northern, southern, and Wolffsohn’s viscachas face threats due to hunting. Habitat loss is a cause for concern for Ecuadorean mountain viscachas.
Mountain Viscacha Fun Facts
What do mountain viscachas look like?
All the species of mountain viscachas have certain similarities in their appearances. The fur on their upper parts is usually brown or dark gray, while underneath it is gray, white, or yellow. However, the coloration of the fur changes with seasons and age.
They have a long bushy tail and elongated ears. In these animals, the hindlimbs are stronger than those in the front.
All their feet are provided with fleshy pads which help them to travel across the rough surfaces of the mountains. The southern viscacha has a tail with a black tip, while the northern viscacha's tail ends with reddish-brown or black fur. The Ecuadorean mountain viscacha has a black stripe on its back.
How cute are they?
Mountain viscachas are indeed very cute animals. Their characteristic densely fur-covered bodies, long ears, and bushy tails make them appear adorable.
How do they communicate?
The main method of communication in the different species of mountain viscachas is through vocalizations. They are known to make an alarm call that sounds like a bird whistle to alert others of any looming danger. In the northern viscacha, the calls are quite high-pitched.
How big is a mountain viscacha?
Generally, the body lengths of the four species of mountain viscachas range between 11.8-18 in (30-45.7 cm).
The northern viscacha's body measures between 11.8- 17.7 in (30-45 cm), and the bushy tail measures between 7.8-15.7 in (20-40 cm). The Ecuadorean mountain viscacha possesses a head and body length of 15.8 in (40 cm) and a tail of length 15.7 in (40 cm).
When comparing mountain viscachas to a long-tailed chinchilla with a body length of 10 in (26 cm), mountain viscachas can grow to almost twice the size of long-tailed chinchillas at times.
How fast can a mountain viscacha run?
Mountain viscachas are considered to be quite agile. Their strong hindlimbs with fleshy pads help them to move around quite swiftly. The northern viscacha is capable of hopping more than a distance of 7 ft (2 m) when alarmed.
How much does a mountain viscacha weigh?
Mountain viscachas can weigh up to 6.6 lb (3 kg). In contrast to another kind of rodent known as the muskrat that weighs up to 4.4 lb (2 kg), mountain viscachas are heavier.
What are the male and female names of the species?
The males and females of the four species of mountain viscachas are known as male mountain viscachas and female mountain viscachas.
What would you call a baby mountain viscacha?
A baby mountain viscacha is known as a pup.
What do they eat?
Mountain viscachas have a herbivorous diet and rely on vegetation as their food source. Their food materials comprise various mosses, grasses, and lichens.
Are they dangerous?
There is no information to suggest any of the species of mountain viscachas are dangerous to humans.
Would they make a good pet?
Mountain viscachas are not kept as pets as they have not been domesticated.
Did you know...
The Ecuadorean viscacha was first noted by researchers in 2005. This species of viscacha differs genetically from the other three species by a value of 7.9%.
The pampas cat and Andean mountain cat prey on the northern viscacha.
It is quite easy to differentiate between the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) and the mountain viscachas, as the former has a short tail and black and white markings on its face.
Is a viscacha a marsupial?
Viscacha is a kind of rodent, belonging to the order Rodentia and the family Chinchillidae. They are closely related to the chinchillas. Unlike marsupials like the kangaroo, rodents do not have pouches for their young. Therefore, neither the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) nor the four species of mountain viscachas qualify as marsupials.
What does viscacha mean?
The name viscacha has been taken from the Spanish word 'vizcacha', which evolved from the Quechua word 'wisk'acha'. The word was used to refer to these rodents, mountain viscachas and plains viscachas, similar to chinchillas, and apparently has no other meaning.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our fox squirrel facts and key deer facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Mountain viscacha coloring pages.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR
Pradhanya RaoBachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR
With a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Christ University, Bangalore, Pradhanya's passion for the English language and literature led her to explore the field of content writing, where she has gained extensive experience in writing, reviewing, editing, and fact-checking. She has also earned certifications in Google Ads Search, Google Ads Display, and Social Media Marketing, showcasing her proficiency in digital marketing.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
